Food, beverages and tobacco in South Korea
South Korea: Food, beverages and tobacco was 7.6% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Food, beverages and tobacco in South Korea, 1963–2023
Source: International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics, UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Measured in % of value added in manufacturing.
Analysis
In 2023, food, beverages and tobacco in South Korea stood at 7.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 15.9% on the previous year and up 23.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food, beverages and tobacco in South Korea peaked at 31.7% in 1964 and was at its lowest, 5.4%, in 2011.
South Korea ranks 147th of 157 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Food, beverages and tobacco in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % of value added in manufacturing | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 31.6% | — |
| 1964 | 31.7% | +0.3% |
| 1965 | 26.5% | -16.5% |
| 1966 | 25.3% | -4.5% |
| 1967 | 24.6% | -2.7% |
| 1968 | 23.1% | -6.2% |
| 1969 | 23.3% | +0.9% |
| 1970 | 25.8% | +10.7% |
| 1971 | 24.7% | -3.9% |
| 1972 | 25.0% | +1.1% |
| 1973 | 18.2% | -27.4% |
| 1974 | 18.9% | +4.0% |
| 1975 | 17.8% | -6.1% |
| 1976 | 18.6% | +4.9% |
| 1977 | 19.1% | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 18.0% | -5.7% |
| 1979 | 16.3% | -9.6% |
| 1980 | 16.6% | +1.9% |
| 1981 | 15.8% | -4.9% |
| 1982 | 16.6% | +5.3% |
| 1983 | 15.8% | -4.8% |
| 1984 | 14.4% | -9.0% |
| 1985 | 13.8% | -3.8% |
| 1986 | 12.7% | -8.1% |
| 1987 | 11.7% | -7.8% |
| 1988 | 11.4% | -3.2% |
| 1989 | 11.4% | +0.7% |
| 1990 | 10.7% | -6.3% |
| 1991 | 10.6% | -1.2% |
| 1992 | 10.6% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 10.1% | -4.7% |
| 1994 | 9.4% | -6.7% |
| 1995 | 8.4% | -10.4% |
| 1996 | 8.9% | +5.5% |
| 1997 | 8.6% | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 8.9% | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 8.8% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 8.3% | -6.5% |
| 2001 | 8.1% | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 7.8% | -3.7% |
| 2003 | 7.5% | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 7.3% | -3.0% |
| 2005 | 6.6% | -9.6% |
| 2006 | 6.3% | -5.2% |
| 2007 | 6.6% | +5.6% |
| 2008 | 6.3% | -5.1% |
| 2009 | 6.5% | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 6.5% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 5.4% | -16.7% |
| 2012 | 5.8% | +8.8% |
| 2013 | 6.1% | +4.8% |
| 2014 | 6.4% | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 6.7% | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 6.8% | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 6.6% | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 6.4% | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 6.9% | +7.4% |
| 2020 | 7.5% | +9.0% |
| 2021 | 6.7% | -10.5% |
| 2022 | 6.5% | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 7.6% | +15.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 7.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.5%, 56% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 7.6% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 28.6%, 26% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 26.6% | 23.1% | 31.7% | 7 |
| 1970s | 20.2% | 16.3% | 25.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.0% | 11.4% | 16.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.5% | 8.4% | 10.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.1% | 6.3% | 8.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.4% | 5.4% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.1% | 6.5% | 7.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More economy & growth data for South Korea
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 41.23 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.022 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 797.74 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 15.80 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 22.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0084 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 305.78 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 4.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2332 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per capita 8,447 includes gold, current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food, beverages and tobacco in South Korea?
- Food, beverages and tobacco in South Korea was 7.6% in 2023, according to International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics, UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
- What is the highest food, beverages and tobacco recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 31.7% in 1964.
- What is the lowest food, beverages and tobacco recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.4% in 2011.
- How does South Korea rank for food, beverages and tobacco?
- South Korea ranks 147th out of 157 countries with data for 2023.
- Is food, beverages and tobacco rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics, UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), published as part of Food, beverages and tobacco (% of value added in manufacturing). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Manufacturing of food, beverages, and tobacco includes industries classified in ISIC (Rev. 3) divisions 15 and 16. Value added is the contribution to the economy by a producer or an industry or an institutional sector, which is estimated by the total value of output produced and deducting the total value of intermediate consumption of goods and services used to produce that output. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of value added in manufacturing which is the contribution to the economy by the manufacturing sector (ISIC Rev. 3 major division D).